Pm Abe Sends Ritual Offering To Yasukuni Shrine
Japan's Prime Minister Abe Shinzo has sent a ritual offering to Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo to mark the start of its spring festival.
Abe sent a potted plant to the shrine on Tuesday under his title of prime minister.
The shrine honors Japan's war dead. Those remembered include leaders convicted of war crimes after World War Two.
Abe is unlikely to visit the shrine in person, as he has called on the public to refrain from outings in order to contain the coronavirus.
The prime minister has not visited the shrine since December 2013. But he has offered potted plants twice a year, for the spring and autumn festivals.
He also sends private cash offerings every year on August 15, the day Japan commemorates the end of World War Two.
Within Abe's Cabinet, internal affairs minister Takaichi Sanae and health minister Kato Katsunobu have also sent potted plants.
Eto Seiichi, a minister for promoting the active engagement of all citizens in society, visited the shrine during its autumn festival last year. He has indicated that he will not visit this year's spring festival.
To prevent the spread of infections, Yasukuni Shrine has shortened the spring festival from three days to two. It will close its gates one hour early and deny entry to its main sanctuary.
